Tandem disk harrow



T. H. FRENCH.

TANDEM DISK HARROW.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. I9I9.

Patented Apr.- 20, 1920.

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F. HI FRENCH.

TANDEM DISK HARROW.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.IB. I9I9.

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El. FRENCH, @F EBESTQN,

DISK EAREOU.

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.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK H. FRnNcI-i, a

citizen of the United States of America, and` resident of Preston, Jackson county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Tandem Disk Harrow, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe Vobject of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a .tandem or trailer disk harrow.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for connecting the ency on the part of said trailer device to follow the course of a leader device.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction forv a wheeled trailer device whereby said trailer device tends to advance in a straight line so long as a leader device to which it is attached advances in a straight line, and whereby said trailer device automatically and instantly conforms to and follows the leader device in any deviation from a straight course'.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a tandem disk harrow which automatically overcomes the tendency of said harrow to creep down the slope when advancing on'a'side hill.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of lelements hereinafter set forth, pointed out .in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 1s a plan illustrating my im proved trailer disk harrow in position for practical use in connection with a /forward disk harrow, a portion only of the latter device being shown. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, onthe line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail plan of a portion Speceaton of Letters Eatent .application med august 1e, wie. segni no.

of the devices which operate automatically to effect the:I course of the trailer device. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same dev1ces. Fig. 6 is a perspective illustrating one end portion-of the frame member employed to connect the units of the trailer disk harrow, on an enlarged scale. 7 1s asection, on an enlarged scale, on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan, and Fig. ,9 a corresponding side elevation, illustrating a modified form of my connecting devices to hitch a trailer disk harrow to a forward disk harrow of different type from that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have illustrated my improved trailer disk harrow used in connection with a leader disk harrow of special construction, such as is illustrated and described in Letters Patent of the United States Number 1,286,986 granted to me Deoember 10, 1918. This leader disk harrow is comprised, generally of a relatively long main frame, designated generally by the numeral 10, having a length corresponding substantially to the combined lengths of the `disk units or gangs 11, 12. Evener bars 13,

14 are pivoted at their centers to and on opposite sides of the center -of the main frame 10, and have their outer ends pivotally connected, by means of links 15, 16 respectively, to extreme outer end portions of the respectvie disk gangs. Set levers 17, 18 are fulcrumed intermediate of their ends on the frame 10 and are adapted for adjustment for adjusting the inclination of the disk gangs relative to the line of draft. The lower ends of the set levers 17, 18 are pivotally connected by links 19, 2O toinner ends of the evener bars 13, 14, respectively, and by links 21, 22 to inner end portions of the disk gangs 11, 12 respectively. Thus it will be seen that rearward movement of the upper ends of the set levers 17, 18 will result in forward movement of the.v links 21, 22, causing a forward movement of the inner ends of the disk gangs; and in forward movement of the links 19,'20,causing an oscillationl of thef evener bars 13, 14, rearward movement of the links 15, 16 and of the outer ends of the disk gangs. An opposite movement of the levers will of course result in an opposite movement of the parts described. In this manner the disk gangs are moved from both ends, in the process of adjusting their inclination, and neither end need be moved a great distance asin the common forms. This general explanation of the forward disk harrow is given to make clear the manner of connecting my improved trailer harrow to it. l

The trailerharrow has two disk gangs,

Y designated generally by the numerals 23,

24, the disks of which preferably are of the familiar cutaway type, and arranged; in staggered relation, and oppositely dished, relative t'o the disks of the forward barrow. At the extreme outer end portions of the gangs 23, 24, preferably between the two outermost disks of each gang, are boxings 25, 26, each ofwhich has a horizontal bearing 27 (Fig. 6) to receive an axle of a dlsk gang, and a forward projection 28 formed with a vertical bearing 28, A cross frame bar 29 is formed of two spaced parallel members suitably secured together, is arranged above the disk angs 23', 24, and has its end portions turned downwardly adjacent the boxings 25, 26. In the downturned end portions of the cross frame bar 29 are secured spindles 30, 31, vertically arranged and pro'ecting at both ends from said frame bar. 'f'he lower projecting ends of the spindles 30, 31 are swiveled in the vertical bearings of the forward projections ofthe boxings, 25, 26,'. and secured as by cotter pins 32. The cross frame bar 29 provides a means for connecting the disk gangs 23,

. posed between said members.

24, and preventing their separation in use. An evenerr bar 33 is transversely arranged in front of and substantially parallel with the 'cross frame bar 29, and may be considerably shorter than said frame bar. The evener bar 33 has its end portions hooked or recurved'rearwardly at 33HL and lying in the same horizontal plane as the body portion thereof. Draft links 34, 35 are arranged substantially horizontally and have theirv rear ends pivoted on projecting upper ends of the spindles 30, 31, and their'forward ends converging somewhat and overlying end portions of the -evener bar 33 and pivoted to bolts 36, 37 extending vertically therethrough. Other draft links 38, 39 are pivoted at theirrear ends to lower end portions of the spindles 30, 31, are inclined upwardly throughout major portions of their lengths, and have their forward end portions bent into horizontal planes spaced below the draft links 34, 35. The forward end portions of the lower draft links 38, 39 engage the lower surface of end portions of the evener bar 33 and are pivoted on the bolts 36, 37. Forward portions of the draft links 34-38 and 35--39 also are connected by bolts 40, spacing blocks 41 bein inter- -I ammerstrap braces 43 extend from the bolts 40 to the bolts 36 and 37, the last namedbolts projecting materially above the evener bar 33. The recurved or hooked portions of the evener bar 33 are embraced between the parallel portions of the draft links 34-38 mand 35-39, to revent tilting of said bar under strain. raft links 44, 45 are provided toconnect end portions of the evener bar 33 to the frame of the forward disk barrow, said draft links preferably converging substantially on the same angles assumed by the rearmost draft links, so that they are substantially in line, on Yeachside of the device. Each draft link 44, 45 preferably is composed of two flat bars arranged with their greater transverse dimension vertically, the forward portions of which are side by side andv bolted rigidly together, as by bolts 46. Substantially ymidway of their ends the bars composing the draft links 44, 45 diverge to form vertically arranged forks, the rear ends, of which' are formed with eyes pivoted on the bolts 36 and 37. The upper members of the forks are pivoted on upper the braces 43, and the lower members are pivoted on lower ends of said bolts, below the lower rear draft links 38 and 39. The general form of the forward draft links 44, 45 is arched, whereby they are carried over the forward disk gangs 11, 12, the "forward end portions inclining downwardly toward the centers of the evener bars 13, 14. U- clips 47, 47 are swiveled on the pivots of the evener bars 13, 14, and forward ends of the draft links 44, 45 enter said clips and are pivoted therein on transversely arranged bolts 48. Special braces 49, 50 may be provided, 'extending from the pivots of the evener bars 13, 14 to thepole bars 51 of the forward harrow, on inclined lines conforming substantially to the inclination of the draft links .s4-38, 4.4, 35-39 and 45. Thus means is provided for transferring the draft force from the pole of the forward harrow to outer end portions of the trailer barrow, and for bridging the draft devices over the harrow devices. The 'arrangement of the forward andl rear draft links, and their connection to the evener bar 33, provides a means for accomplishing this bridging without resulting in vweakened connect-ions or a tendency to apply draft to the vtrailer' ydevices on lines inclined from the horizontal. It should be stated that hammerstrap braces 52 are connected to upper portions of the bolts 36, 37 and extend .in-`

wardly and downwardly and are connected` The forward end with an-upturned flange 56 bearing a ainst the rear side of the evener bar 33, said ange preferably being elongated and extending a material distance each side of the pivot bolt 54. Portions of the plate 55 project laterally beyond side margins of the tonguel 53 and are secured by bolts 57 to bar washers 58 underlyinoI said tongue, whereby slide bearings are formed connecting the plate to the tongue. An upstanding bracket 59 is secured to the tongue 53 at' a point beyond the rearward range of movement of the plate 55. A bolt 60 asses throu h the central portion of the ange 56 an has its head countersuuk in the front surface thereof. ortion of the bolt 60 is threaded, and a ook nut 61, screwed thereon, against the rear Y surface of the flange 5 6, to make a rigid connection between said members. T e rear portion of the bolt 60 is reduced in diameter and passes slidably through an aperture in the bracket 59. .A coil spring 62 is mounted on the bolt 60, between the bracket 59 and flange -56 and is under tension and tends to hold said bracket and flange separately as widely as possible. Iprefer to provide means `for adjusting the tension of the spring 62, by placing. a washer 63 and adjusting nut 64 on-the threaded portion of the bolt 6 0, -the washer receiving actual contact of the forward end -of the spring.

Underslung sectors 65, 66 are fixed to and project forwardly and downwardly from the evener bar 33 adjacent but spaced from the ends thereof. ASet levers67, 68 are fulcrumed intermediate of their ends on the sectors 6 5, 66 and are provided with detent devices 69 for engaging them and holding the levers in any position in which they may be placed manually. Set lever links 70, 7l are pivoted at their forward ends to the lower ends of the set levers, which project below the sectors, and said links extend rearwardly and inwardly and are pivoted at their rear ends to boxings 72, 73 carried by the inner ends of the rear disk gangs 23, 24. The levers 67, 68 may be shifted to adjust the inclination or degree of` angularity of the diskgangs relative to the line of draft.

A bracket 74 is mounted on and secured by bolts 75 to the central portion of the cross frame bar 29 and a sector 76 is formed on and rises from said bracket. An adjusting lever 7 7 is fulcrumed at its end on the sector 76 and is' provided with detent devices 78 for engaging said sector to hold said lever in any position ink which it may be placed manually.- A yoke 79 is arranged with its closed end beneath the rear portion of the tongue 53 and has its arms extending beneath and beyond the cross frame bar .29. The arms of the yoke 79 contact with the lower surface of the cross frame bar and are secured thereto by U-bolts 80 and washer plates 81,

' disk gang y portions' of the yoke 79, and a rock shaft 83 is journaled in said brackets, and is formed withforwardly extending crank arms located outside ofthe brackets. On the central portion of the rock shaft 83 is an upwardly and forwardl extending lever arm 84 to which is pivota ly connected a link 85 extending across an intermediate portion of the adjusting lever 77, said link bein provided with a tension coil spring 86. resser bars 87, 88 are mounted on opposite sides of the arms of the yoke 79 and are formed with upturned rear ends ivoted by bolts 89 to rear ends of said yo e arms. On the forward ends of the resser bars 87 88 are secured upstanding rackets 90, to the upper ends of which are pivoted theend cranks of the rock shaft 83. The presser bars 87, 88 overlie portions of the frames of the disk gangs 23 and 24, or extensions of said frames, and downward movement of said presser bars vcauses a depressionof inner end portions of the disk gangs. Such .downward movement is accomplished by pressure on the lever 77 downwardly, which acts through the link 85, lever arm 84, rock Y shaft 83 and brackets 90 to lower said presser bars, and an opposite movement of said lever will permit a raising of said presser bars, and a release of pressure on the frames. rThe link 85 is not connected dlrectly to the lever 77 but passes across said lever and is 'held by any convenient means against lateral displacement relative thereto, while the direct pressure of the lever is received by.l the spring 86, a set collar 91 preferably being provided on said link at one end of the spring to permit adjustment of the tension of the said spring. Thus a yielding connection is established between the lever and the rock shaft, so that under emergencies the presser bars may move upwardly somewhat independently of any movement of the lever. A yoke shaped extension 92, shown in Fig. 3, preferably is xed to each of the presser bars 87 88 at its ends and passes beneath the frame member of the disk harrow loosely. It is the function of these extensions to prevent the gangs from dropping out of place relative to the pressure devices.

In practical use the normal tension of the spring 62, acting upon the relatively long ange 56 of the plate 55, in contact with the rear face of the evener bar 33, tends to maintain said evener bar in a position wherein it is parallel to the frame bar 29' f various parts the gangs 23, 24 are in their. normal positions of adjustment as determined by the adjusting levers 67, 68 and links 70, 71. Whenever anything occurs to l,sliding rearward movement of the plate 55 on the tongue, resulting from pressure of the flange 56 at one end or the other against the evener bar,'depending upon which direction it is inclined away from the latter member. The disturbance of the normal position of the parts may occur through lateral draft on the forward portion of the tongue 53, as in rounding a corner; or it may occur through lateral draft on either or both of the disk gangs, and hence on the rear portion of the tongue, as in traveling on a side hill or laterally inclined surface. Ineither event the lateral draft is transferred to the evener bar 33 to -cause it to move out of its normal condition at right angles to the tongue against the pressure of the spring 62, with the effect of placing said spring under reater tension as before stated. This shifting of the evener bar includes a relative forward movement of the end on that side of the tongue to which draft is applied, and such forward movement results in a forward draft on the cor` responding link 70 or 71, with a corresponding rearward thrust on the other of said links. This movement of the links 70, 71

vin turn acts on the inner ends of the disk gangs, accomplishing a relative forward movement of the inner end of that gang on the side toward which the draft is effective, and a corresponding rearward movement of the inner end of the other of said gangs, displacing them from their normal. or ade justed positions'of angularity, in equal degrees but opposite directions. In other words, some of the inclination or angularity is taken from the gang on one side and added to that on the other, the increase in angularity or degree of inclination being on that side toward which draft is applied on the forward end of the tongue and on,

the evener bar. The result of this shifting of angularity of the follower devices is a position by which they more readily follow the leader device in rounding a corner; and as soon as the side strain is removed, or reduced to a point below the effective force ofthe tension spring, said spring acts to return the parts to their normal positions, in which the follower devices tend to advance in a straight path of travel.

In case the side strain on the tongue is produced at its rear end through lateral pull of the trailer devices in advancing on a side hill 'or slope, the result is such as to turn the trailer or follower devices, in this instance the disk gangs, in such fashion that they tend to advance slightly in an uphill direction, through the alteration of their angularity in a manner similar to that described, and' this alteration is suicient to overcome the downhill pull, the result being that the implement advances in la straight line in spite of the downhill pull.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated the application of these devices and principles for the use of my improved trailer disk harrow and its connections with a leader disk harrow of the ordinary type, portions only of the devices being shown. The leader harrow includes disk gangs 11a, 12a, a cross frame bar 10a and angle pole bars 51a attached thereto. The tandem or trailer harrow is constructed as previously described herein with the single exception that the forward draft links 44, 45 are omitted and are substituted by a single forward draft link 44a extending forwardly from the central portion of the evener ybar 33, arching over the disk gangs 11, 12a and their frames, and pivotally connected at its forward end to the central portion of the cross frame bar 10a. The action of the evener devices is the same as previously described.

The evener principles and devices mayl also be applied to other trailer devices, such as tongue trucks, cultivators, harrow carts and the like, to cause said trailer devices to follow in the path of the leader or tractor device, whether in a straight line or on a curve.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a trailer disk harrow, a cross frame member, disk gangs pivoted at their outer end portions to end portions of said frame member, an evener bar arranged parallel with and in front of said frame member. a tongue connected with the center of the frame member and pivoted to the center of said evener bar, draft links pivotally connecting end portions of the frame member and evener bar, set levers pivoted on said evener'bar, and links connected with said set levers and pivotally connected to inner end portions of the respective disk gangs.

2. In a trailer disk harrow, a cross frame member, disk gangs pivoted at their outer end portions to end portions of said frame member, an evener bar arranged lparallel with and in front of saidframe member, a tongue connected with said frame member and pivoted to the center of said evener bar. means connected. with said evener bar for independently adjusting the angularity of said disk gangs, tension devices between said tongue and evener bar tending to hold them at right angles to each other for straightahead advance of the device but adapted to by the rear portin of said tongue and adapted to engage inner ends of said disk A gangs.

3. In a trailer disk harrow, a cross frame member, disk gangspivoted at their outer end portions to end ortions of said frame member, an evener ar arranged parallel with and in front of said frame member, a

A tongue connected with said frame member and pivoted to the center of said evener bar,

means connectedwith s aid evener bar for independently adjusting the angularity of.

ends to end portions of said frame member, i yan evener bar-arranged' parallel with and in front of said frame member, a tongue connected with said frame member `and ivoted to the center of said evenerl bar, dra links pivotally connecting end portions of the frame bar and evener bar, means for independently adjusting the angularity of said disk gangs, and yielding pressure devices .between said tongue and the evener bar adapted normally to hold them at right angles to each other for straight-ahead ad! vance of the device but adapted to yield under lateral pressure, so that a portion of the adjusted angularity is removed from one of said disk gangs and a corresponding amount applied to the other.

5. In a trailer disk harrow, a cross frame member, disk gangs pivoted at their outer ends to end portions of said frame member,

L an evener bar arranged parallel with and in front of said frame member, a tongue connected with said frame member and pivoted to the center of said' evener bar, draft links pivotally connecting end portions of the frame bar and evener bar, means for adjusting the angularity of said disk gangs, a plate slidably mounted on said tongue and formed with an elongated liange engaging said evener bar, a tension spring engaging said piate and the tongue and adapted to hold said iange in such engagement, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

6. in a 'trailer disk barrow, a cross frame member, disk gangs pivoted at their outer ends to end portions of said frame member, an evener bar arranged parallel with and in front of said :traine member, a tongue connected with said frame member and pivoted to the center orl said evener bar, tension devices between said tongue and. the evener bar, draft links pivotally connectin end portions of said frame member to en ortions of said evener bar, each of said links being formed ofv two members vertically spaced, said evener bar being recurved at its ends to form hooks engaging betweenthe members of said draft links.

7. In a trailer disk harrow, disk gangs, an evener bar transversely arranged in front of said disk gangs, a tongue crossing and pivoted to the center of s'aid evener bar,

pivotal connections between end portions of said evener bar and outer end portions of the respective disk gangs, pivotal 'connections between inner ends of thedisk gangs and said evener bar, and yielding pressure devices arranged between said tongue and the evener bar tending normally to hold themat right angles for straight-ahead advance of the machine but adapted to yield under lateral pressure, so that said disk gangs are oppositely inclined away from their normal positions in equal degrees.

8. Inatrailer disk harrow, disk gangs, an evener bar transversely arranged in front of said disk gangs, a tongue crossing and pivoted to the center of said evener bar, pivlotal connections vbetween end portions of said evener bar and outer end portions of the respective disk gangs, pivotal connections between inner-ends of the disk gangs and said evener bar, means foradjusting the latter connections to adjust the angularity of said disk gangs, and yielding pressure devices arranged between said tongue and the evener bar tending normally to .maintain straight-ahead advance of the machine but adapted to yield under lateral pressure, so that said disk gangs are op` sitely inclined away from their adjusted. positions in equal degrees.

9. In a trailer disk harrow, disk gangs arranged end to end, a cross frame member, said frame member being provided with vertical spindles at its ends to which outer end portions of the respective gangs are pivoted, a member transversely arranged in front of said frame member, and draft links pivotally connecting end portions of said frame member to end portions of said forward member, each of said draft iinks being formed of a pair or vertically spaced members embracing said forward member and diverging rearwardly and pivoted on upper and lower ends of said spindles.

l0. In a trailer disk harrow, a frame, disk gangs arranged end to end and pivoted at their outer ends to end portions of said frame, an evener bar arranged transversely in front of said disk gangs, draft links pivotally connecting end portions oii said frame to end portions oi said evenerV of said evenerbar, said tongue extending i rearwardly to. said. frame, a yoke horizontally arranged and connected to'said tongue and passing beneath said frame and clamped thereto, presser devices pivoted on said yoke and engaging inner ends of the respective disk gangs,and means carried by said frame for vertically adjusting said presser devices.

1l. In a disk harrow, a frame, disk gangs arranged end to end beneath said frame, a yoke horizontall secured to the central portion of said rame, presser devices pivoted at one end to said yoke and adapted to engage inner ends of the respective disk gangs, a rock shaft journaled in said yoke, said rock shaft being formed with crank arms pivotally connected to the resser devices, a lever fulcrumed on said rame, and connections from said lever for rocking said shaft.

12. In a disk harrow, disk gangs arranged end to end, a frame to Which said gangs are connected, a yoke horizontally arranged and secured to the central portion of said frame, presser devices pivoted at one end to said yoke and adapted to engage inner ends of the disk gangs, a rock shaft journaled in said yoke, said rock shaft bein formed with' crank arms pivotally connecte to the pressery devices, a lever fulcrumed on said frame, and connections between said lever and the rock shaft for oscillatin the latter, said connections includin yiel ing devices permitting movement 0% said rock shaft at time independently of said lever. l

13. In a disk harrovv, a frame, disk gangs arranged end to end, presser devices pivoted at one end on said frame and adapted to engage over inner'end portions of said'disk gangs, a rock shaft iournaled in said frame, said rock shaft being formed with crank arms connected to opposite ends of said presser devices, means for rocking said shaft, and retaining devices on said presser devices passing beneath portions of the frames of said disk gangs vand adapted to prevent displacement thereof, relative to the presser devices.

Signed at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, this 11th day of August, 1919.

FRANK H. FRENCH. 

